author of that letter hee will frame an aunswer to all that heere is obiected which God knowes is but little and weake as men of iudgement vvill soone see Onely I cannot let passe his vrging of the excommunication against him because he defendeth the innocencie of the priests in the matter of schisme which he saith was forbidden by the breve to be disputed of vnder paine of excommunication I wonder fa Parsons could vrge this forget that all bookes in like sort whereupon odium dissidiumue c. in these affaires might arise were forbidden in the same Breve and then by consequence if this Breve be of force generall Fa Parsons hath incurred excōmunication by this his Libell without all excuse because he taketh as you see notice of the Breve But if hee view the Breve well hee shall finde that Lay men are not included therein vnder any censure Besides that the Bull was frustrated euen by the Archpriest and Iesuits themselues as is sufficiently proued in the Answer to the Apologie Againe where Maister A. C. saith that power was not giuen to S. Peter by Christ to transferre gentem in gentem it is both catholicke and true doctrine and in vaine shall Father Parsons goe about to infringe it For the rest I leaue to the author himselfe though there be nought else of importance against him Of Fishers Memoriall sufficient hath beene said in the first chapter But where hee affirmeth that Doctor Gyfford hath been a flatterer of Cardinall Allen in state practises and shewed the same in sermons in Rhemes and in his orations to the Duke of Guise I doe verily thinke all these to be meere calumnies For first Cardinall Allen was in Rome when the action of 88. was intended and there concurred in what hee did concurre The other to wit Doctor Gyfford was then in Rhemes where no concurrence in the world was or could be giuen being farre out of the way for concurrence either by aduise or otherwise vnlesse it were in priuate consent of mind which I think father Parsons was not of counsell with And for his sermons my selfe haue heard diuers of them yet neuer did I in three yeeres space heare him in his sermons deliuer any eyther vndecent or vndutifull word against her Maiestie or state but onely lament the times and exhort to labour for the conuersion thereof by preaching praying And touching his orations to the Duke of Guise I heard one of them and to my knowledge there passed not a sentence in derogation to the state of England or drawing to the hurt thereof But I know the Doctor will sufficiently purge himselfe of all such vncharitable and vniust accusations which rather fauour of malice to draw him into obloquie as himselfe is then of truth honestie verity or charitie Adde also vnto this that if Doctor Gyfford had been a forward man in any state practises against our country it is more then probable that he should haue been a dealer either in the action of Frauncis Throckmorton being his neere kinsman or Babbingtons by reason of Gilbert Gyfford with whom he was very inward and familiar yet father Parsons cannot accuse him in eyther for the first hee was in Rome a scholer when it was in hammering For the second the contrary appeared by his Letters writ to Gilbert Gyfford whilst hee lay in Paris which as I remember were found in Gylberts studie when hee was apprehended Thus you see how improbable it is that he should be such a forward man in state practises as fa Parsons without all proofe affirmeth besides his protestations in his late Letters are to the contrary and vtter dislike of such proceedings An aunswer to the eyght Chapter concerning his directions vnto Catholicks how to discerne the truth how to beare themselues in this time of contention c. WE will let passe in the first aduertisement his dangerous tearmes of necessity and ineuitabilitie in these disgustfull accidents vvhich in the first sence absolutely vnderstood taste vnsauory if not heretically to put absolute necessitie and ineuitabilitie in those actions which are subiect to mans will reason and free election as all the reasonable actions of man are In the second vnderstanding taking the whole sentence together it includeth a contradiction in ipsis terminis in the very tearmes of the proposition For to be necessary and to be accidentall are opposite in the very tearmes in that to be necessary or of necessity is to exclude chaunce and to be accidentall or by chaunce is to take away necessity because that which is by chaunce may hap or not hap but that which is of necessitie must needes be and cannot be otherwise As for example where the sunne is there must needes be light because light is a necessary effect of the sunne neither can the sunne be without that effect but that it shall raine at noone daies is by chaunce according to the disposition of the ayre and multitude of vapors gathered together in it So that the ayre being indifferently subiect to either disposition viz. of much store of watry humour or otherwise it falleth out to be accidentall whether it shall raine at noone dayes or not raine And euen so in the reasonable actions of man beeing subiect to the will a man may freely make his election at his pleasure this way or that way without constraint or necessity whereby you see this proposition of fa Parsons as he hath deliuered it in tearmes is eyther foolish because contradictory in terminis or dangerous putting things vnder absolute necessity ineuitability which are subiect to mans will and free election and therefore accidentall But though his proposition be deliuered in dangerous or ill termes we will construe his meaning the best way and as by the words of our Sauiour the Apostle alleadged we think verily he meant to wit that although they be accidentall in the respect of mans free will vpon which they depend yet are they necessarie secundum quid for the probation and true touch of those that are Christes and so ineuitable not absolutely but secundum quid supposing the inclinations of mens wills and the courses taken in these affaires vppon which scandalls must of necessity follow And this we haue sayd to cleare Fa Parsons dangerous assertion that no man mistake the verity of the Cath doctrine which putteth no reasonable action of man nor effects there-vpon following vnder necessitie or ineuitability For of the same nature are the cause and the effect so that if the cause be necessary then the effect depending in esse et fieri vpon that cause being a proper effect of the cause is also necessarie quia posita causa surgit effectus sicut posito sole resultat lumen so in like manner if the cause be accidentall the effect thereon depending must needes be accidentall As for the winde to be in the East or West is accidentall because the being of the exhalations which cause
A REPLIE VNTO a certaine Libell latelie set foorth by Fa Parsons in the name of vnited Priests intituled A manifestation of the great folly and bad spirit of certaine in England calling themselues seculer Priestes With an addition of a Table of such vncharitable words and phrases as by him are vttered in the said Treatise aswell against our parsons as our bookes actions and proceedings ¶ Pro iustitia agonizare pro anima tua et vsque ad mortem certâ pro iustitia et Deus expugnabit pro te inimicos tuos Ecclesiast cap. 4. ¶ Noli esse humilis in sapientia tua ne humiliatus in stultitiam seducaris Ibidem cap. 13. ⧠Justitiae et innocentiae permissu Anno Dom. 1603. The Epistle to the Priests said to be vnited with the Archpriest * ⎠* REuerend and my deere bretheren whom with my soule I loue and honour with my hart I cannot but be sory to see you so vniustly abused by the slights and cunning deuises of the Iesuits and more to see you whom wisedome and discretion should make perfect and expert in the affaires of our poore afflicted Church so applaude their proceedings that worke your bane or at the least by holding your peace to approoue such actions in them as tend to the ouerthrow of your selues Tell mee I beseech you in your owne vnderstandings are you not highly abused in bearing the name of these two late Libells viz. the Apologie and Manifestation in both which not onely the honour of priesthood is impeached and our whole Cleargie disgraced debased and sought to be held in slauery and subiection to the Iesuits theyr creatures but also such vndutifull actions and practises as haue beene attempted by them or any other Catholicke from the beginning of her Maiesties raigne vntill this day are maintained defended excused or iustified whereby your liues are engaged as accessary to all treasons plots practises done or attempted against our Soueraigne and Country by such parsons in that to approue defend or maintaine any action is as you knowe to make the approuer defender and maintainer accessary thereto iudge then what cause you haue to thanke such Maisters for this theyr good office in laying snares to entrappe you withall and thinke whether this deuise be not a plot of purpose to bring you into as great obloquy with your Prince as through theyr own vndutifull practises they haue brought themselues thereby to turne the sword of persecution vpon all as heeretofore for some particuler mens offences Deere brethren if you regard not the wrongs and oppressions doone to vs your brethren and neerer vnto you in all right of reason then the Iesuits are if you regard not the deiection and oppression of your Cleargie which they violently seeke if you respect not theyr actions and attempts against your natiue country and neerest friends yet regard your selues respect your owne liues haue a care to the common and generall good of altogether insiduated and betrayed by them disclaime from such actions wherein you haue no part neither desire I thinke to haue I know your harts to be loyall let them not be stained by a false imputation from a deceitfull Iesuit Beleeue me her Maiestie dooth make difference betwixt practisers in matters of state and religion and therefore suffer not your names to be brought into question for such odious dealings by the cunning policies of Fa. Parsons inrowling thē to the approbations of such hatefull trecheries And if there were n◠difference at all made as I know there is yet were it glorious to die a Cath priest in profession of the Cath fayth without taint or imputation of those foule crimes But some of you happily may be ignorant how farre you are abused in this kinde vouchsafe but the reading ouer of this reply to the latter Libell you shall easily perceiue more danger to be couched therein then you are aware of and thereby see the better what wrong is offered you in publishing the same in your names If in the perusing hereof any word may seeme ouer-sharpe which yet I haue endeuoured to auoyde consider I beseech you the deformity of some matters vniustly vncharitably auerred against vs that all such sharpe words touch onely one man the Author of these iniurious Libels and Architect of this whole businesse and then I hope you will with more ease yeeld pardon to such excesse If any other faults eyther in stile or defectiue handling of matters obiected occur beare with the author this beeing his first worke and hudled vp in hast without such helpes as longer time might haue affoorded him yeelding him in all things as fauourable a censure as you may who is ready to protest in the sincerity of a Catholicke priest that neyther malice anger passion nor desire of reuenge drew him to vndertake this worke but onely a sincere opinion of iustice and innocencie so much impugned by Fa Parsons in defence wherof hee thought himselfe bound as well in respect of the common cause as his owne particuler interest therein to shew his best indeuours Your friend and brother VV. C. ⧠The Preface generall to Catholickes COurteous and beneuolent Catholicks I present here vnto you a reply vnto a certaine Libell intituled A manifestation of the great folly and bad spirit of certaine in England calling themselues seculer Priests which happening into my hands I diligently red ouer hauing without passion perused it and with indifferencie as to my selfe seemed poysing and considering as well the matter deliuered with the forme and manner of the deliuery as also the verity thereof I could not but a little wonder to see a man so mightily inueigh against passion and bitter writing in others shewing so much choler passion yea and impatience as hee doth here And did I not descry the Author thereof to be one particuler Parson not many priests vnder whose names falsly yea and vncharitably it is published thereby to bring them into obloquy with their Prince and state vnto whom the Iesuits practises in state matters heere defended are odious I should much admire to see so palpable vntruths defended so manifest vniust actions maintained and such apparant verities with such boldnes denied but the worke proceeding frō the party it doth hammered in the forge it was I could expect no other then I found therefore my wonder was the lesse and my admiration sooner at an end For why the man is well knowne to be of such a naturall disposition as that if he once enter into any course he will with infinite violence prosecute the same Vpon which headstrong cariage irremouable wilfulnes many straines you know and ouerstrainings must needs follow and many fained inuentions with concealements of truthes yea and in the end open impugnations of verities the better to iustifie former proceedings least happily otherwise the fault might seeme too light where it may in no case be indured Pardon mee deere Catholickes in deliuering the truth with
whose secret actions priuate workings tended vnto the subuersion of the Prince and Countrey or Magistrate and Citty and that this being vnknowne to the Prince or Magistrate affection would not suffer them to see their owne danger and the danger of their Countrey Common-wealth or Citty it were not only lawfull for me to disclose the particuler actions of the said party though priuate thereby to giue occasion vnto the Prince or Magistrate to be more vigilant vnto themselues and their estates and more obseruant of the aforesaid dangerous person but also an act of allegeance to my Prince and of loue vnto my Country vnto which euery man is bounde in duty and conscience So in our case if any particuler actions of the Iesuits be discouered they are but matters of proceedings with particuler men that thereby you might learne by particularities and matters of lesse moment to conceiue the better what how dangerous their practises be in matters of greater waight and how theyr proceedings hold one and the selfe-same course both in particuler and generall affaires in matter of lesse and greater moment And this so long as we obserue truth in our relations is both lawfull and necessary as the case now standeth with the Iesuits and their actions in England and we are free both from the note of detractors in reuealing theyr exorbitant proceedings penalties thereby incurred The like cannot be said in theyr behalfe for defaming of vs. For they haue not onely vniustly and vntruly detracted from our good names and credits in these matters of our proceedings as all the world now seeth but also entred into our particuler liues most falsly going about to touch therein our good names which no way is excusable in that if any such thing had beene true in any of vs yet could it not beeing a secret infirmitie haue tended to any generall hurt of any whole body or common-wealth but onely to a particuler hurt of a mans selfe which by no law of conscience could be reuealed by them Neither haue wee done so by them though I thinke no man will recken them all saints But those secret diffamations proceeded doubtlesse of a machiauilian ground and not of iustice or charitie Now let vs come at length vnto the booke of Important considerations at which our deere Father spitteth no lesse then fire with words of folly frensie fury mutinie warre and defiance parasiticall pernicious erroneous hereticall wicked reprochfull trayterous ridiculous impious base and wickedly minded proctors for hereticks accusers against persecuted Catholicks transformed with passion enuy malice sold our tongues to the cōmon enemy vnited in wicked attempts contemptible to all Catholicks of discretion the like Certes this good mans zeale was great when in his heate of choler hee vttered so many fierie and passionate speeches But yet I must needs craue pardon at his hands to runne ouer this matter a new and request his patience that wee may examine the booke againe and see whether it deserue so mightie blame as hee maketh shew of Belieue me if it doe we will cancell it and blot out his date but if it proue otherwise hee must be content to let it passe with a more fauourable interpretation and not wrest matters into worse sence then euer the Authors intended In the very first entrance into this booke I wish you to note a cunning falshood of this Father in the relating of the title of this booke which he setteth downe thus Important considerations to mooue all true Catholicks that are not wholy Iesuited to acknowledge all the proceedings of the state of England against Catholicks since it excluded the Romaine faith and fell to heresie to haue beene not onely iust but also mild and mercifull c. In this altered title which is not verbatim with the title of the booke Fa Parsons sheweth himselfe not a little first in foysting in of the world all before proceedings thereby to take aduantage of euery petty matter that hath happened perhaps sometimes by the knauery of some Pursuiuant or other odd fellow without commission or warrant as also in adding with a Parenthesis since it excluded the Romane fayth and fell to heresie therby to make the matter shew more hatefull and haynous Whereas in very deede as euery man may see that list to read ouer the Treatise the intention is not to excuse or iustifie euery particuler action of the state as the action may be in it selfe considered without further respect then to that particuler bare action For who will or can iustifie or excuse the killing of a priest as a priest or confiscating or hanging of a Cath as a Cath meerely for religion This I say is not intended in that booke as all the world may see for therein is lamented the hard course taken as well against Priests as Catholicks neither for ought I see doth the state make shew of persecution quo ad vitam et necem for matter meerely of religion and conscience but vppon pretence of treason or attempts against her Maiesties person or state or at the least vpon the feare thereof Now then all the end and scope of this booke is none other then this to excuse the state from such generall imputation of infamie layd vpon it especially by the Iesuits who haue been the chiefest causers of those vehement afflictions as though the state without all cause or shew of cause had made lawes against innocent men and there-vpon persecuted them vnto death no true occasion of exasperation hauing euer been giuen from any such person eyther to prince or state To take away I say this vnderserued infamie this treatise was written of purpose to lay the fault truly where indeede really it hath beene humbly desiring at the feete of our Soueraigne that we being innocent in such actions may not sustaine the burden of their offences but may obtaine so much fauour in her gratious sight as to be numbred amongst her loyall subiects and those that hate such vnnaturall and euer accursed practises least otherwise we be inforced to say lamenting our case with the Prophet patres nostri peccauerunt et non sunt et nos inquitates eorum portamus This I say is the whole scope and intention of this worke and therefore doth the author giue reasons by particuler mens actions and vndiscreete attempts as well by writings as practises that the state hath had iust cause to feare when it perceaued such dealings and there-vpon was moued to prouide by lawes and premunitions against the like afterwards And if by these lawes and prouisions it happened that innocent men sometimes were wronged as in all generall lawes it happeneth sometimes yet was not the state all causes first giuen considered so much to be condemned nay rather it was to be excused in that it is most certaine that it hath not proceeded with that rigor vpon such causes giuen as otherwise it might haue done to the extirpation of all such persons from
whom or from whose degree such actions proceeded And I would but aske Fa Parsons because I know him to be a great statist this one question whether in his conscience he doe think there be any Prince in the world be he neuer so catholicke that should haue within his dominions a kind of people amongst whom diuers times he should discouer matters of treason and practises against his person and state whether he would permit those kind of people to liue within his dominions if he could be otherwise rid of them and whether hee would not make straight Lawes and execute them seuerely against such offenders yea and all of that company and quality rather then he would remaine in any danger of such secret practises and plots I thinke Fa Parsons will not for shame denie this especially if he remember the examples of the French religious men for the like practises expelled England generally in a Cath time and by a Cath Prince and theyr lyuings confiscate and giuen away to others The like was of the Templars both in England and Fraunce Yea to come neerer vnto him was not all their order expelled Fraunce for such matters and yet the King and state of Fraunce free from imputation of iniustice in that action If these things proceeded from Cath Princes iustly against whole Communities or orders of Religion vppon such causes wee cannot much blame our Prince and state being of a different Religion to make sharpe lawes against vs and execute the same finding no lesse occasion thereof in some of our profession then the fore-said Princes did in other religious persons whom they punished as you see But you will say that there is no reason that the innocent should be condemned for another mans fault if some one Cath or Priest were faulty in this kind all were not so how then can the actions of the state against such be iustifiable To this I aunswer that you cannot think that euery particuler French Monke was guilty of treason in that Kings dayes when all were expelled nor is it like that all the Templers were so irreligious as some of them were neither doe I think that all the Iesuits were accessarie or consenting vnto their practises in Fraunce yet all you see payd for the delict of some Princes are iealous and haue cause so to be there depending so much vpon their safety as there doth When therefore they find trecherie in any Communitie they will be sure to prouide for the worst and rather extirpate that Cōmunitie then liue in feare thereof Doth it not so happen alwayes when the Gouernours or Magistrates of a Cittie counite or concurre vnto any treason doth not the Cittie presently lose all her priuiledges and the Prince seaze vpon the same and take all into his owne hands gouernment suppressing the whole state of the Cittie for the faults of a few onely vvhat meruaile then if this hath happened in our case where there hath been such difference in religion And then iudge whether we that haue beene innocent in such practises as GOD and our conscience can witnes and yet haue felt the smart of such proceedings haue not great cause to cleere our selues to exclaime against such as will neuer leaue to irritate our Prince and state and to make known vnto her Maiestie and our state the innocencie both of vs of our ghostly children who haue beene pressed with the burden of afflictions by reason of such vndutifull attempts in some few vnrestrained persons most humbly crauing at her sacred hands some redresse for such miseries that the stroke may light where the offence hath been giuen and not henceforth vpon the necks of poore innocents If there be any offence in vs towards her Maiestie or her proceedings it is onely in matters of religion which beeing a thing not onely proceeding of mans will but by a light from God informing first the vnderstanding and then the will and therfore not to be altered or disposed as other indifferent actions or conceits may be wee hope may and will be more excusable in her gracious sight But for matters of practising against her person crowne or state that is a thing onely proceeding from a peruerse and passionate will the vnderstanding still remayning sui iuris able to discerne ad vtrum libet eyther of the cōueniencies or mischiefs of such affaires which no way can be excusable Now whereas some woorthy men are touched with such vndutifull proceedings in the afore-said Treatise you must vnderstand that thereby the persons of the men are not condemned but rather theyr facts or they onely in those facts yet worthy men in themselues And you must vnderstand that good men yea Saints haue had their errors as these proceedings in these woorthy men must be acknowledged neither may we approue such errors because the Authors of them were Saints No man approueth the defence of rebaptization in Saint Cyprian because S. Cyprian is a Martyr and yet whilst hee liued he defended the same very earnestly practised it with great contention against other Bishops Dauids fact of murthering Vrias must not be excused because he was secundum cor Dei and now a Saint no no passions and errours haue raigned in Saints whilst they were vpon the earth yea euen amongst the Apostles and disciples of Christ whilst he was with them Therefore let no man be scandalized that good men and worthy persons are condemned in some particuler facts sith no man liueth on earth without error But you will say it is commaunded in the Law non reuelabis turpitudinem patris tui the two sonnes of Noe were cursed of God for reuealing and laughing at theyr fathers nakednes therefore we should rather haue buried such defects of our worthy parents in perpetuall obliuion vnder ground then haue published them thus to the world Alas I would to God it had beene in our power to haue hid these things without the mischiefes before expressed belieue vs assuredly the world then should neuer haue had knowledge of them but it was not in our power their facts were so publique to the world better known vnto our state then to our selues But it will still be said if such men of worth and great vertue dealt in such matters why should wee so much exclaime against the Iesuits Is their fault so haynous therein aboue the others To this I aunswer that the Iesuits faults are much more as you also will confesse if you cōsider all circumstances well For first what was done by these worthy men was done almost in the first heate of change of Religion wherin both more passion might mooue and greater hopes of recouery of religion stirre them vp to such attempts Besides their hopes of sincere dealing in such as should haue concurred in those actions meerely for religion not of ambition might draw them on to follow such deuises For as then the ambitious intentions of the Spaniards were not discouered vnto them which
or the right of the States it as little importeth considering that he was put in trust with it by her Maiestie and vpon his alleageance to her should haue discharged the trust and fidelity reposed in him in that charge To dispute the case whether hee might in conscience or ought in danger of mortall sinne deliuer vp the Towne to the King of Spaine is not necessary to our purpose yet this I will say that all which Fa Parsons hath said in proofe thereof is not worth a rush vnlesse hee proue two points first that her Maiestie is the person that hath giuen the first cause of breach of the league with the Spaniards which I think if matters be well examined will proue contrary as you may see by the attempts made by the Spaniard both secretly and publiquely against her Highnesse and state before aleadged nothing being attempted by her against his Maiestie of Spaine or any his Countryes Which being true then might she iustly and in conscience iure gentium make warre against him win his Townes and Countries from him and in right and iustice detaine them Secondly he must proue that Sir William Stanley knowing in his conscience that she had no iust cause of warre against the Spaniard which I think he could not know might deliuer vp the said Towne without a greater mischiefe to follow vpon such restitution for a man is not bound to make restitution of goods euill gotten or possessed mala fide when without imminent danger of his owne or other mens liues he cannot doe as all Canonists will confesse because the life of a man is dearer then goods and the lesse euill must be preferred before the greater As for example if I should haue vniustly taken away the weapons of another man and had beene malae fidei possessor yet if I should perceaue that the true owner were paratus ad homicidium and thereby eyther my owne life or others might be endangered if I should restore his weapons vnto him which erst I had taken vniustly from him in this case it is euident that I were not bound to make restitution although I were as I haue said malae fidei possessor So in this case of Sir William Stanleyes if greater mischiefe might probably ensue thereof then the deteyning of the Towne could be he was not bound thereto Which case Fa Parsons hath not handled Now will I referre the censure to other men whether greater euill did not grow vnto our common cause in England by this particuler fact of Sir William Stanlies in that the state was thereby exasperated against all cath for his fact which great damage and common hurt of his Country-men and Cath he was in charity bound more to regard then the restitution of one Towne to the Spaniard And therefore waying and considering the auersion and alienation of our state from Cath for such facts as these of Sir William and the like wee haue often wished that if his conscience had felt any touch or scruple concerning those warres he had otherwise quietly left them off or with-drawne himselfe without giuing any such open occasion of complaint vnto the state But his not onely deliuering vp of that Towne but also ioyning himselfe with the Spaniard in field against his Soueraigne and Country may not be approued by any good subiect And therfore I wish that so worthy a martiall man had conuerted his sword against the Turke or other common enemies and not against his owne Soueraigne and Country that by his actions our Prince might haue had no iust cause to haue beene offended with vs at home Aliens and strangers may doe what they will and wee yet remaine blamelesse if wee haue no part with them because they are strangers but when naturall subiects of our owne Country and Cath shal in these iealous and suspicious times practise or conuert their weapons against their Prince and Country it cannot but incense their wrath and indignation against all Cath at home as by experience we haue felt Touching Fa Parsons vrging of an Epistle writ by Card Allen in defence hereof what might be his reason or whether he did it of himselfe or vrged there-vnto by reason of the great expectance of the Spanish intention anno 1588. immediatly following which we suspect I cannot tell but I wish with all my hart it had beene vnwritten considering the little good hath come thereby Neither is this to dishonour the worthy Card as Fa Parsons would make it but contrariwise to shew our loue and honour we beare towards him in that we hartily wish such ouer-sights or inconuenient actions as the best man in this life is not without imperfections nor the wisest in his iudgement without errors had neuer proceeded from him And whereas such things as the book written in the yeere 1588. this Epistle are too too euident and publiquely knowne to our state and all men else we seeke to excuse the same as much as in vs lyeth that the fault or rather the errour may by circumstances seeme more tolerable which no man of wit or discretion can deny to be an euident demonstration of our loue and affections towards him as our dearest and worthiest Father Which cannot be odious and offensiue in vs to our Prince state as we trust in that duty and nature bindeth euery man extraordinarily to loue their parents and founders eyther naturall or spirituall And therefore to excuse them is but a shew of filiall loue and affection but obstinatly to defend and maintaine that in a parent which is no way approueable were meere sycophancie not loue meere peeuishnes not any tolerable affection Now come we to the great attempt made by the Spaniards in the yeere 1588. out of which action Fa Parsons exempteth all English Iesuits because he saith himselfe fa Holt and fa Creswell were then in Rome with Cardinall Allen and that no English Iesuit at all was residing at that time eyther in Spaine or in the Low-countries But all this proueth not that therefore the Iesuits had no part in this action Neither can it be probable to any man of iudgement or vnderstanding that the Iesuits beeing so great with the King and so forward in attempts against our Country hauing had their fingers in matters precedent as you haue seene would now sit still hauing so faire an offer made and so good opportunity to be dooing I confesse that there was no great respect made to the English beyond the Seas in that action nor in any other of the Spaniards will be if euer matters come to issue nor perhaps were the English Iesuits called to be counsellers therein as since they haue beene because indeede the Spaniard intended a most bloody conquest and translation of our state and people But to thinke that the Iesuits were not vrgers thereto and setters forwards to theyr power of that attempt were to contradict all reason and probabilities For first it is most certaine that all the vvorld had very
him into the Colledge of the Iesuits and leauing him in a paued roome he tooke occasion to depart from him vpon some affaires to speake with one of his fellow Iesuits in that house And comming back againe vnto him hee brought the Rector of the Iesuits Colledge with him who entred into an inuectiue and bitter discourse against him and the conclusion was as followeth He commaunded him to put off his Scholers robes to put on a sute of ragges which they offered him to depart the Colledge and Citty and to shift for himselfe saying that he was not worthy to stay longer there neither should and that for a viaticum to helpe himselfe in his trauaile he should not haue so much as a Spanish reall which is but sixe pence English Ma Barkworth perceauing their intentions told them that he would not depart with such disgrace hauing not offended in that if he had concurred with the fore-said youths for their entrance into Religion yet was it not such a fault as could deserue such expulsion their wills being not in his power to rule or commaund The Rector seeing he would not dispoile himselfe and put on those ragges to depart called in certaine of his lay brethren strong fellowes to deale with him by violence and to enforce him to change his habite Whereof two comming vnto him catched him by the legges and pulling them from vnder him vpon a suddaine threw him backward flat vpon the pauement with such violence being then sicke and weake with a Feauer that hee was much brused there-with and in a great maze presently vpon his fall the rest of the lay brethren apprehended some a legge some an arme and so drew him into another roome paued in like manner as in those hote Countries all roomes for the most part are He being as I say thus amazed and perceauing them to pull and hale him fearing belike that they would murder him vsed these words but in the Spanish tongue What will you kill me will you kill me let me first confesse me When they had thus dragged him into the other roome with strugling and striuing he got vpon his feete No sooner was hee vp and recollected but that one of them gaue him such a stroke with his first vpon the face that hee felled him down backward againe With this blow he was so brused in his face that when he was cold afterwards he was not able to vtter his words that one though neere him might well vnderstand him what he spake Whilst this was in hand and the Rector of the Iesuits Colledge and the Minister of the English Colledge Fa Blackfan being spectatour of this cruell and inhumaine tragedy in came a Spanish Iesuit of a noble house in Spaine and finding them in this sort abusing so outragiously this priest he reproued them for it and told them it would be a great shame vnto them if the world should be witnes thereof Heere-vpon they left off and hauing better bethought themselues of this fact so outragiously committed they intreated him to keepe silence thereof and not to make the other Scholers acquainted heere-with and they would kindly intreate him heere-after he should haue large faculties a good viaticum when he went for England and all the friendship they could shew him else Heere-vnto he seeming to yeeld they priuily conuayed him backe to the English Colledge brought him to a sequestred chamber where he lay vntill his recouerie But some of the Scholers that then were in the Colledge as there were then not aboue 9. or 10. the rest being sent away to another place for feare of the plague at that time in the Citty seeing him come in all brused began to suspect some ill measure So that notwithstanding their secret conuaying him into a sequestred chamber they found him out and resorted vnto him which one of the Iesuits perceauing spake vnto them saying Take heede come not neere him for we verily think he hath the plague This speech they gaue out to feare the Scholers from resorting vnto him that they might not see into what pleight they had brought him But for all they could doe they could not hinder them but that they would did see him The Physician being sent for vnto him and feeling of his pulse not knowing what had happened sayd that hee had suffered great violence by which you may gesse how strangely hee was handled in this combat I know there be diuers that wil thinke this History strange and incredible but if it chaunce that Ma Charles Paget doe but set downe the actions of Fa Holt especially concerning Ma Godfray Foulgeam the very cause of whose death hee was you shall see more strange matters then this And for the proofe of this History of Ma Barkworth my selfe haue heard it related of three or foure seuerall parties witnes thereof and such as desire more certainty heerein I referre them vnto those that were then in the Colledge of Vallâ—dolid and saw him in this extremity and heard him afterwards deliuer the whole course of their proceedings with him in the Iesuits Colledge as heere it is set downe Of which number some are priests who haue vppon their faith and fidelity deliuered the story thus vnto me as from his owne mouth and their owne eyes being witnes to part of it Another example of their vncharitable dealing was with Ma Fixar one of the most famous men of our Nation for diuers good parts in him whom first heere in England they disgraced with the note of espiall most vniustly And afterwards he being in great credite in Lisbone in Portugale with the Bishop if I be not mistaken was by Fa Parsons meanes with-drawne thence vnder colour of greater preferment And when they had him thence into Spaine they confined him into an out place with such disgraces disgusts that he shortly died These two I thought good to set down omitting infinite more examples of his and other English Iesuits their vncharitable dealings against diuers yea most part of our Country-men especially the Gentlemen abroad in banishment Beleeue me it were farre more ease and tolerable for any Cath to liue at home and endure the afflictions of our Country for their consciences then to liue abroad in Spaine Italy or the Low-countries and to suffer that at the Iesuits hands which I know diuers to haue done To the fift and last point of accusation concerning the booke of Succession put out in the name of one Dolman a secular priest whatsoeuer his friuolous excuses may be of vir dolorum it may haue a fitter construction from dolus then dolor in that the whole worke is naught else but a deceitfull conference and treatise to bring an old rotten fayned title neuer dreamed of before this vir dolorum coyned it out of a whole Tessaradecades of genealogies and generations so long agoe that the very Iland it selfe might haue beene turned topsey turuy since the first spring or roote of that title and many a
too much â—auour of An other vntruth alledged by him in this chapter is that we affirme that his holines hath no authoritie to moue war for religion against any temporall Prince This is a manifest lye for his temporall authority concerning this point was not examined by vs as I haue shewed aboue After this in the 77. page follow three vntruths conioyned as in one that we perswade all the world that all is sedition conspiracie rebellion amongst Catholicks in England and not matter of religion that vvee make them the true Authors and occasioners of all theyr owne trouble vexations and dangers by theyr owne indiscreet and temerarious actions and that we also iustifie the cause of the Persecutors and lay the fault vppon the persecuted All these are so manifest forgeries as impudencie it selfe without a brazen visage could not auerre it wee manifestly excusing the body of Priests and Cath and laying the fault onely vppon some particuler persons where the true fault was indeed thereby to shew the wrongs and iniuries that generally Cath and Priests haue sustayned without iust cause onely excusing the Queene and state by ignorance not knowing the difference betweene the innocent and guilty and not iustifying theiâ—â—ard proceedings For it is one thing to excuse a fault and another thing to iustifie the same yea we doe say that the extremity of affliction exceeded in our opinions the measure of the faults But to denie occasions to haue beene giuen by Fa Parsons and his complices and some other also who wee wish had beene better aduised we cannot vnlesse we had as shamelesse countenances as perhaps he frameth to himselfe when he denieth such apparant verities And the same lye is iterated againe in the page following to wit that we make sufferings in England not to be for conscience but for practising against the Prince and state I doe greatly feare he wil proue in the end to haue Laesam imaginationem in these matters framing to himselfe a conceite that all the calumniations which hee can deuise against vs must be true because hee so dreameth Another vntruth is in the 79. page that we haue sent to offer our selues to the King of Scots which is onely spoke of malice to bring vs into suspition and iealousie with our own state at home a thing he vehemently laboureth to doe by all the meanes he can vse as well by lyes and disgraces as by his example of Constantius alledged by him out of Eusebius and Sozomenus you may perceaue which testimonie in very truth doth more properly agree vnto himselfe in that he hauing beene an open professed enemie vnto her Maiestie alwayes yet to purchase her fauour and his credit with her againe wrote a letter some few yeeres past vnto her Highnes a fact of no small presumption offering her his seruice and that he would giue her intelligence out of all parts of Europe what was intended against her and her estate This Letter in his owne hand hath been shewed vnto some of our friends who know his hand as well as himselfe that he may not say it was counterfeited which yet if hee doe I think no man of wit or vnderstanding will thinke probable For what aduantage should her Maiestie or the state get by counterfetting a Letter of Parsons to such a vaine effect If you will say to disgrace him I verily thinke and assure my selfe that her Maiestie and the Counsell no more regard the poore fellowes credit or discredit then you regard your old shooes And in reason doe but thinke whether it is probable that so mighty a Prince and so great a state should respect so meane a fellow I verily thinke he is altogether forgot of them but when as at some times his practises make him infamous to them as the burning of Diana her temple made the obscure Cripple to be talked of By this you may see how fitly Constans his example may be applied to himselfe or to the conceite of her Maiestie and the state But as touching vs his malice cannot reach to his scope her Maiestie and the State know well that as to them wee professe our selues most loyall and faithfull in word and action so stand we most resolute in the profession of our faith loyaltie to God and his Church which God assisting vs wee will continue Another lying inuention of his owne is that we haue deuised a new discourse about Succession and haue dealt another way in England for the intitling of the Crowne more to the tast as he sayeth of some great personages of our estate This malicious falshoode he hath inuented newly to bring vs into iealousie and suspition and thereby hatred to his Maiestie of Scotland See how this Robin good-fellowe playeth his part on all sides to worke mischiefe and contention But hee shall neuer finde such shuffling dealing in vs about matters that concerne vs not as himselfe hath practised First he began with the Scottish title affirming difference in Religion no sufficient cause of barre in right to a Kingdome as you may see in Greenecoate or Leisters Common-wealth howsoeuer now hee inueigh against his Maiesties title onely for Religion Then hee practised with the Prince of Parma to haue his sonne Ranutius marry to L. Arbella thereby to fortifie his title deriued from the house of Portugall And lastly he practised with the Spaniard and hath intitled his daughter the Infanta These haue beene his mutable iuglings by which his Cath Maiestie might see how sure a staffe he hath of him who hath runne through so many titles euer shifting to the greatest as occasions doe require And I am perswaded that hee will returne againe to his Maiestie of Scotland or any other if he see them likelyer once to winne the spurres then the Spaniard Now as he maketh no conscience to slaunder vs thereby to worke our discredits to the vttermost of his power so to fortifie his falshoods against vs he doth arrogate vnto himselfe and his whatsoeuer good and laudable action is done by any of vs or our friends As for example the motion of a toleration and mitigation of extremities in cause of Religion knowne to be first effectually proposed by Ma Bluet and Ma Clarkes meanes and as well the petition as instructions there-vpon with informations of the manner of ease desired drawne by them and put into the hands of such of worth discretion and wit as prosecuted the same this I say he arrogateth to his fauorites and friends though I know that some of them did in many places inueigh against the â—ute and auerted men as much as in them lay from harkning thereto framing strange falshoods and lyes about our intentions and the action it selfe And I am halfe perswaded that if the Iesuits had not beene the matter had found better successe For it is well knowne that they haue alwaies beene enemies to all toleracions in Religion because they think that they should perhaps be expelled or forced to retire themselues vpon
Watson page 312 that the King of Polonia is defeated of the kingdome of Swethland onely by the Iesuits trecherous ambitious and tampering aspires whereas Ma. Watson onely sayth that this defeating was occasioned by their ambitious tampering aspires c. which was a generall report viz. that theyr incroaching vppon the Swethlanders beeing sent thether to preach made them to driue them all out of theyr Country Whereupon the King by theyr suggestions making warre against the Swethlanders to reduce them by the sword they chose his vncle Duke Charles for theyr King and so defeated him of his inheritance If this relation be not true as it was for certainty auerred to be true take it as a relation of newes only blame the first Author Hee denieth also in the same paragraffe that euer hee writ Letter to the Earle of Huntley in Scotland But for that hee may aske Ma. Mush now in Rome I verily thinke he can tell him something thereof He also noteth for a forgerie in the same paragraffe that Ma. Watson saith hee sent a Iesuit to the Earle of Essex for his taking a pension of the king of Spaine Indeede I thinke Ma. Watson might mistake in naming him a Iesuit but Roules and Stanley had commission from him to deale with the said Earle in that behalfe they are both in the Tower about the practise of Squire and haue confessed the same as I haue beene informed In the same § also hee noteth for a calumniation that Ma. Middleton was cusened by him of 300. pound If it be an vntruth Ma. Middleton is too blame from whom as I vnderstand the information came Twelfthly he bringeth in diuers things affirmed by Maister Watson out of his Memorial alias his High counsel of Reformation most of which things by him cited I haue heard reported by reuerend priests that haue seene and read the worke and one of them vnto whom he shewed it within his twelue-months in Rome Somewhat more particulerly we haue spoken of this before After all these collections out of the Quodlibets vvhich you see to be either false or not of any moment hee falleth into inuectiues running againe to prophecies and predictions page 113. where he also affirmeth and saith it cannot be denied that Priests and Iesuits ioyning all together at the beginning of the Seminaries both at Doway Rhemes and Rome did set our cause first on foote haue promoted the same euer since with conioyned labours c. Before in the fourth chapter you haue heard fa Parsons say that no English Iesuit was in place or credite when some matters were in action against our Country as that of Stukley Doctor Saunders and others onely to excuse them in those practises now heere hee saith that the Iesuits ioyned theyr labours with Doctor Allen Doctor Saunders Doctor Stapleton Doctor Bristow Doctor Webbe and many others at the beginning of the Seminaries both at Doway Rhemes Rome and other places to set on foote our cause I would aske him if they cōcurred with Doctor Saunders in promoting the cause of our Country wherein was it if not in the Irish affaires sith hee dealt in no other for our coūtry Before in the fourth chapter hee denieth it stoutly beeing pressed therewith oportet mendacem esse memorem God will still haue him to bewray himselfe Againe if as in the fourth chapter hee sayd no English Iesuit was then in place or credite how did they then ioyne at the beginning of the Seminaries of these men for our common cause I am sure no Iesuite entred the haruest of our Country for some yeeres after the missions of Priests not vntill two yeeres after the erection of the Romaine Seminarie which was some yeeres after the beginning of the Seminary at Doway If hee say that the Iesuits of other Nations ioyned theyr helpes in this action then say I by the same assertion that in ioyning with Doctor Saunders they concurred to the Irish attempts which was the onely affaire for our country or rather against our country in which hee dealt and then I haue what I intended to wit a proofe that the Iesuits haue dealt in all actions against our Country almost from the beginning After this hee entreth into a discourse about the erection of the Archpriest the writing of the Treatise of schisme neyther of which he sayth was a sufficient cause to make these garboyles in such a time and place But to this I aunswer that both beeing the most vniust actions that could be the one in preiudice of the whole Clergy intruding a superior without suffiicient warrant to tyrannize ouer vs as hee did which is sufficiently shewed almost in all our discourses the other in preiudice of our fames and credits in the highest degree as is aboundantly proued and dare not be maintained by any Iesuit be he neuer so audacious how could we do lesse then defend our rights standing onely vpon iustice And iudge whether the offence were in vs of these scandals standing but in the defence of iustice as now all men see or in them that most iniuriously against all law conscience charity and equity maintained the same against vs as Ma. Doctor Ely proueth in his aunswer to the Apologie In the end of this chapter and of this booke hee maketh his conclusion with the same charity he began and hath hetherto prosecuted the same in comparing vs to Luther and other hereticks and that all we haue done hath beene vpon ambition liberty of life promises and obligation to my Lord of London which he saith wee hold out in spe contra spem against the remorse of our owne consciences These are his charitable speeches which in part we could retort and more iustly vpon himselfe but wee hartily pray almighty God to giue him more light of conscience that he may see what an abhominable thing it is in the sight of GOD to maintaine iniustice and impiety vnder the cloake and maske of religion and piety least otherwise hee pay summam mensuram delicti one day for the manifold afflictions and miseries hee hath brought vppon our afflicted church and the infinite wrongs and iniuries that he and his haue done against so many well deseruing men of our English Clergy And thus I will end this reply submitting both my selfe and it vnto the censure of Christes holy spouse the Catholicke Church vnder whose banner I fight protesting that if any thing herein contained be in the least iote contrary or dissonant to the Catholicke doctrine as I verily hope there is not I will be ready hereafter to reforme it DEO GRATIAS A Table of the passionate and vncharitable words and sentences vsed by Fa Parsons in his Libell of Manifestation as well against our persons as our actions and proceedings with the Chapter and leafe noted where you may see them The preface is an inuectiue discourse vpon enuie which he applieth in his booke vnto vs with other reuiling speeches as sal infatuatus infatuated
once appearing such as liued and saw how little sinceritie or care of Gods cause they had but meerely sought after the Crowne and the subuersion of our country not onely repented them of theyr former dealings but also detested and hated such proceedings as was manifest in Cadinall Allen and doubtlesse would so haue happened in the rest if they had liued to haue seen the handling of matters since But for the Iesuits they are so headlong and violent in these courses that they seeme no more to regard the good of our Country or estate thereof then the Spaniards themselues For notwithstanding the manifest intentions of conquest and subuersion by the Spaniards intended yet do they so concurre with them as whereas the Spaniard of himselfe seemeth slow they pricke him on continually with plots suggestions Witnes Fa Parsons actions concerning two seuerall Nauies which miscaried in one of which Ma Doctor Stillington tooke his death of the other since he speaketh in a letter writ from Rome to Ma. Thomas Fitzherbert Witnes this the late attempt in Ireland in which Fa Archer an Irish Iesuite was a great actor VVho will not say now that the Iesuits are much more to be blamed then any of the former woorthy persons sith they desist not to prosecute that which by some of them was afterwards disliked continue an offence begun yea and vppon knowledge of the infinite deformitie thereof into which the other saw not so deepely as is probable Hauing thus giuen you some light whereby you may trulie see into the drift end of the foresaid Treatise of Important considerations the reasons we haue to purge our selues of such inexcusable practises for the which hetherto wee haue all smarted and the causes wee haue not onely to condemne those facts and attempts how woorthy soeuer the persons were that dealt therein but also to exclaime against those that still runne such disloiall races and with all our power and might not onely to disclaime but also resist and reueale such vndutifull practises and indeuours of her Maiesties disloyall yet naturall subiects be they what they may be and of what condition and quality they will be for no condition or qualitie may patronize disloyaltie hauing I say giuen you some light hereof let vs now consider vvhat particuler obiections or indeed barren exclamations this Father maketh against this Treatise VVe will let passe his vaine quipping at sundry and seculer beeing both scurrilous and irreligious in abusing the phrase of seculer priests vsed and approued alwaies in Gods Church with great reuerence to the order of priesthood which he not without note of contempt ioyneth with an allusion vnto secular minds and desires saying not onely secular in order but also in mind hart and desires making the word secular in one sentence to be predicatum indifferently and in like sence as a man would thinke vnto order mind harts desires so may a man say ordo saecularis mens saecularis corda saecularia desideria saecularia in one and the same prophane vnderstanding which how irreligiously it soundeth from the mouth of a religious man iudge you Verily if he had been carefull of his penne he might haue seuered the sentences at the least so as the sence of the word might haue appeared diuers and therein haue shewed a reuerent respect to priesthood howsoeuer he had otherwise despised our persons But let vs see I pray you what he saith to our mislike of certaine Treatises letters and reports written made in diuers parts of the world All that hee sayth to this matter is nothing but a shufling vp of graue and worthy men of our nation who haue writ or dealt in such affaires but whether therein they did wel or ill hee neuer sheweth by any reason or proofe in the world Onely he exclaimeth at vs as enuious and malicious such as haue sold our tongues to the common enemy This kinde of shifting dealing is common ordinarie with this father but how simple in the sight of wise men I leaue you to cōsider If it be a sufficient proofe or excuse in euery particuler fact viz. such a graue and woorthy man did the like what matter of fact may not be excused Did not S. Cyprian rebaptize such as had beene baptized before by heretiques Is it therefore vppon this ground a sufficient warrant to anie man to rebaptize such as are baptized by protestants Haue not diuers Saints and Martirs done diuers things not to be imitated of the generations following What good conclusion then is this Graue and worthy men haue writ and dealt in this affaire therefore it is good conuenient and lawfull If such graue and worthy men had infallibilitie in their actions which Saints in this life haue not had then such an infallible inference might be made but not otherwise Therefore good Fa you should not onely haue produced the actions of such men but also the reasons and grounds of their actions and proued them to haue been good and currant by some conuincing reason and proofe but this you neuer touch Any shadow seemeth sufficient to you to bleere mens eyes but this may not serue your turne Wise and graue men haue erred and sometimes doe erre and yet remaine both wise and graue Wee are not Angels who intuitiuè see into the natures of things what is conuenient or inconuenient but we are men subiect to passion and mutability gathering things à posteriore whereof follow manie errors and imperfections in our actions And heere-vppon it commeth that posteriores cogitationes solent esse meliores and we often finde that by experience which at the first we were ignorant of A notable example heereof we haue in this very matter by Card Allen both a graue and a wise man as all the world knoweth For he was somwhat faultie in the beginning in this kinde as by a certaine treatise wherein his finger was is too too manifest yet doe we well know that in his latter time this worthy prelate was such an enemie vnto those proceedings as he neuer could endure to heare of them and much complained of the proceedings of some Iesuits therein as many can witnes Now then eyther Fa Parsons must condemne the former actions of this worthie man as erroneous as well as we doe or else disclaime from his latter proceedings being not in the same course with the first Yet heere by the way I must tell you that I verily think that this worthy man was drawne vnto these proceedings more by others then of his owne nature and I haue no small reasons to induce me thereto For first you know the generall expectance of the whole world concerning the Armado of 1588. as well for the greatnes thereof as the opinion of the Spaniards sincere pretence of Religion which was nothing so This conceite might draw the good Card to be deceaued as well as Pope Sixtus who it is well knowne was drawne into a conceite thereof and deceaued